Yarn-relief bobbin-spindle units



July 7, 1970 Filed Sept. 18, 1968 YARN-RELIEF BOBBIN-SPINDLE UNITS 3Sheets-Sheet l F G. I

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' SAMUEL F. ADAMS I BY EDWIN L. BIRCH ATTOR N EYS July 7, 1970 s, ADAMSEI'AL 3,518,823

YARN-RELIEF BOBBIN-SPINDLE UNITS Filed Sept. 18, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS SAMUEL F. ADAMS EDMOND H. GUERIN, JR. EDWIN L. BIRCH g m, 7kmwon ATTOR N EYS United States Patent 3,518,823 YARN-RELIEFBOBBIN-SPINDLE UNITS Samuel F. Adams, Greenville, S.C., Edmond H.Guerin,

Jr., Woonsocket, R.I., and Edwin L. Birch, Port Gibson, Miss., assignorsto American Paper Tube Company, Woonsocket, R.I., a corporation of RhodeIsland Filed Sept. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 760,601 Int. Cl. D01h 7/16 US. Cl.57131 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In the high-speed winding oftextile yarn and like materials, the close fit required betweenconfronting bobbin and spindle surfaces, for such purposes asvibration-suppression, is relieved at angularly-spaced positions wherethe spindle-wrapped yarn will be urged to pass through to its couplingwith the usual traveller in a substantially unjammed condition;yarn-breakage and waste-accumulation tendencies are advantageouslydecreased, while, at the same time, necessary minute critical loosenessis preserved between bobbin-spindle surfaces to avoid bindings whichinterfere with vibration control, balance, and dofiing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toimprovements in supports for textile materials and the like, and, in oneparticular aspect, to novel and improved arrangements wherein the yarnor other material which must pass between a bobbin and a cooperatingmated spindle is automatically urged into and accommodated byangularly-spaced radially-relieved passageways at the site of closeradial fitting between the bobbin and spindle, thereby reducingyarn-breakages, waste accumulations, improper seatings, and resistanceto dofiing.

In the textile machinery art, it has long been common practice tocollect packages of yarn, thread, and so forth, upon tubular cores orbobbins which are mated with and rotated at high speeds by cooperatingspindles. Precisionengineered driving spindles may revolve with littlevibration or other unsteadiness only so long as the bobbins mounted uponthem are properly centered and seated, and any deficiencies in thelatter respects also tend to impair delivery of driving torques to thebobbins and to develop excessive numbers of so-called ends down (i.e.,yarn breakages). Bobbin and spindle assemblies which have evolved overthe course of many years in this Well developed art have assumed avariety of structural shapes and have been fabricated of many differentkinds of materials, depending upon the intended applications; onecurrently-preferred construction, as to which the present teachings areparticularly applicable with distinct advantage, involves a generallytubular bobbin which is mated with an associated spindle oversubstantially the greater part of its full length and is slip-fitted ina frictionallydriven relationship with the tip of the spindle. Commonly,such bobbins are slightly tapered, or comically-shaped, and may be madeof impregnated paper, wood, or plastic. Large numbers of these bobbinsare dropped, empty, onto the numerous upstanding spindles of a windingmachine which have short lengths of yarn wrapped around their base oracorn portions, and the spindles are then rapidly accelerated to thevery high rotational speeds which are modernly required for heightenedproductivity. Package build-up on each bobbin is conventionallyregulated by a surrounding movable ring-traveller unit through which theyarn is pulled.

The aforementioned vibration or other unsteadiness which results fromeccentricities or improper seating of the bobbins on the spindles can bereduced somewhat by seat designs which involve tight interlockingbetween the bobbin and spindle, but at the expense of difficulty indoffing the bobbin; preferably, however, the seat is of a simpleuniversal or ball-and-socket type permitting the bobbin to pivot aboutthe rounded tip of a spindle, and a vibration-suppressing stabilizerinsert below the seat establishes a rather close fit which occasionsimpact-dissipation of unwanted vibrational energy. The latter type ofconstruction is described in US. Pat. No. 3,167,262, and is of advantagein that the bobbins are relatively free for purposes of easy dotting, amatter which is of special concern when automatic dofiing equipment isused. However, even in such instances, the yarn which is normallywrapped about the spindles before bobbins are donned, so that thewinding will commence properly, tends to interfere with the bobbins andto cause first, an undesirable eccentricity in the bobbin-spindlerelationship, second, a jamming which makes the yarn more susceptible tobreakage, third, an unwanted blocking of the minute impacting needed todissipate unwanted vibrational energy, and, fourth, a troublesomeaccumulation of yarn wastes which must be periodically cleaned fromaround the spindles.

SUMMARY In accordance with certain aspects of the present teachings, itis uniquely recognized that the critical fitted relationships betweencooperating spindle and bobbin elements, needed to promote optimumhigh-speed performance and to facilitate doffing, may be preserved whileat the same time accommodating the relatively free passage of even thickyarn between these elements. Further, it is recognized that, in thenormal dofiing and subsequent donning of bobbins, the trailing yarn endtends to wrap and take up positions about the spindle which can bereadily coordinated with support and relief surfaces serving to preventtroublesome jamming and accumulations of waste. Structuralimplementations of these concepts are in the form of convenient andinexpensive shaping of those confronting surfaces of the spindle and/ orbobbin which are disposed at the site or sites of close lateral fitbetween the bobbin and spindle, the shapings affording angularly-spacedradial reliefs in the fit axially coextensive with it, and the fitremaining essentially unaltered over the unrelieved surfaces and therebypreserving the needed bobbin-spindle alignments.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention toprovide novel and improved bobbin-spindle arrangements of inexpensiveand uncomplicated construction in which smooth high-speed running andease of dofiing are promoted by yarn-relief passageways.

A further object is to provide unique textile-winding units whereinyarns is guided freely between close-fitting parts of mated bobbin andspindle members.

Another object'is to provide novel and improved bobbin and spindleelements in which cooperating surfaces are shaped to both accommodateyarn between them and to preserve minute lateral spacings required forproper alignments and suppression of vibration.

Still further, it is an object to provide textile spindles and bobbinsin which unique surface configurations at the sites of close mating fitsguide yarn ends to accommodating spaces where jamming and accumulationsof waste are minimized.

By way of a summary account of practice of the invention in one of itsaspects, an elongated tubular impreghated-paper bobbin member ofgenerally conventional external configuration, and having internal driveprovisions near its upper end, is mated with a cooperating substantiallycylindrical drive spindle. Lower interior surfaces of the bobbin, whichare somewhat larger in diameter than the corresponding diameter of thespindle surfaces opposite which they are disposed, are provided with atubular bushing afi'ixed concentrically within the bobbin at oneposition near its lower end but above the level to which the usual acronor like portion of a mated spindle can project. A minute radial spacingof but a few thousandths of an inch is left between the interior of thebushing and the adjacent outermost surfaces of the spindle, except thatthese outermost spindle surfaces at the site opposite the bushing areinterrupted by a plurality of longitudinallyextending indentations inangularly-spaced relation about the spindle axis. Each of theindentations is of radial depth sufficient to accommodate relativelythick yarn therein and within the confines of the bushing withoutjamming. Above the level of the indentations, the spindle surfaces arepreferably shouldered to a lesser diameter, such that yarn which hasbeen dropped about the spindle prior to donning of a bobbin tends todrape itself about that shouldered portion and to have itsdownwardly-extending lengths urged into non-jamming positions within thespindle indentations when a bobbin is lowered into place.

Although the features of this invention which are considered to be novelare expressed in the appended claims, further details as to preferredpractices, as well as to further objects and advantages, may be mostreadily comprehended through reference to the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partly cross-sectionedview of a mated highspeed bobbin and spindle assembly, together with anassociated ring-traveller unit, the spindle being of an improved formwherein external surfaces opposite a tubular bobbin insert areinterrupted by longitudinally-extending fiat indentations within whichthe spindle-wrapped yarn passes relatively freely;

FIG. 2 represents a transverse cross-section of the bobbin-spindleassembly of FIG. 1, taken along section line 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 depicts another form of improved spindle unit, including a sleevehaving alternate projections and indentations which afford yarn reliefwhile preserving small lateral clearances with a bobbin, a portion ofthe latter being shown in a raised position during a doffing operationwhich leaves a tail of yarn about the spindle;

FIG. 4 provides a partly cross-sectioned view of a mated bobbin andspindle such as appear in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section of the assembly of FIG. 4, takenalong section line 5--5 thereof;

IFIG. 6 is a partly cross-sectioned view of an alternativebobbin-spindle assembly wherein yarn-relief improvements are promoted byrecesses inwardly from the exterior surfaces of a substantiallycylindrical spindle;

FIG. 7 represents a transverse cross-section, comparable to those ofFIGS. 2 and 5, of another construction of bobbin-spindle assemblywherein the spindle surfaces opposite a bobbin bushing are of corrugatedform; and

FIG. 8 represents a transverse cross-section, comparable to those ofFIGS. 2, 5 and 7, of yet another construction of bobbin-spindle assemblywherein the inner surfaces of a bobbin bushing are alternatelyprojecting and recessed to afford yarn relief.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus portrayed inFIGS. 1 and 2 includes a spindle structure of a known type wherein asubstantially cylindrical tubular metal spindle shaft 10 is rotatedabout a verticle axis 1111 on the usual inner support bearings (notvisible) carried upon the textile machine frame with which such spindlesare commonly associated. Near its lower end, the spindle is driven athigh speeds by way of the so-called whirl 12, and, at its upper end ortip, 13, the rotatable spindle is shaped, as by the illustratedrounding, to form a seating surface onto which may be fitted the innerseating surface of an annular insert 14 held within the laminatedresin-impregnated tubular paper bobbin 15. The sloping and shaping ofthese respective seating surfaces are such that a narrow band or smallarea of contact is developed between them, this being a condition whichis of known advantage in permitting the bobbin to be dropped in placeand to seat itself accurately on the spindle for rotation thereby,without locking the bobbin in place so tightly as to impair itssubsequent dofiing. Driving torques are transmitted to the bobbin fromthe spindle tip, with some relative slippage being possible. Ininitially using this type of assembly, an attendant insures that a fewturns of the to-be-wound yarn 16 are disposed around the lower portionof the spindle, thus lightly securing in place one end of the yarn beingtaken from an overhead supply (not illustrated). This yarn is alsolooped through a lightweight metal traveller 17, which is looselysnapped over the shaped rail of a ring 18. Conventional mechanisms (notshown) raise and lower the ring in a prescribed manner insuring theproper build-up of a yarn package on the bobbin in a predetermined formsuch as that outlined by dashed linework 19. Bobbin 15 is equipped withannular metal end caps 15a and 15b at the top and bottom, respectively;bottom end cap 15b may be of an irregular configuration along its lowerannular end surfaces, to promote improved yarn pick-up as disclosed inUS. Pat. No. 3,321,901.

Below the engaged seat 13 and 14, the spindle 10 and bobbin 15 arenormally laterally spaced from one another, such that they do not tendto interfere and either prevent proper mating to begin with or makesubsequent dofiing more difficult. Accordingly, the bobbin 15 is shownto be of generally.loose-fitting proportions relative to the spindle.However, excessively loose fits permit the bobbin to wobbleeccentrically and to vibrate noisily and rise from the intended seatedrelationship on the spindle, and these diificulties are minimizedthrough use of a tubular bushing 20 within the bobbin 15 generallynearer its lower end. Such bushings may be made of laminated papertubing, for example, and are particularly effective in suppressingerratic vibration when the annular clearance between their innerperipheries and the cooperating outer peripheries of the spindle is buta few thousandths of an inch. Such minute annular clearance isdesignated by dimension 21 in the case of the bobbin bushing 20 inFIG. 1. When only that very small clearance is available, yarns whichare wrapped around the spindle for the aforementioned purposes tend tobecome jammed or to be displaced from the intended positions when abobbin is donned. This results in the yarn breakages, eccentric bobbinpositions, loss of effective vibration-suppression action by thebushing, and undue collection of yarn waste, all as referred tohereinabove. However, the illustrated construction is one wherein theadvantages of the minute clearance are preserved by sixangularly-arrayed flats 22a-22f machined on the otherwise circularspindle section 22 disposed opposite the bobbin bushing 20. These flatindentations from the cylindrical outline of spindle section 22 createsix equallyspaced passageways of relatively large radial depth, such asthe passageway or space 23, which readily allow the yarn 16 to passbetween the spindle and bobbin bushing quite freely. The remaining outerportions of the cylindrical outline of spindle section 22 are closeenough, angularly, and are of sufiiciently broad area, to maintain thedesired minute bobbin-spindle clearance 21. The spindle diameter abovethe level of section 22 is somewhat smaller than the largest diameter ofsection 22, such that the bobbins may be dotfed easily. Radial depth ofthe spindle indentations may be as large as strength factors for thespindle will allow, and, typically, may be about & inch. Passagewaysformed in this fashion should be at least as long as the axial region 24over which the close clearance is established, in this instance by thetubular bushing 20. As shown, the flats in FIG. 1 extend not only alongthe greater full length 25 of the cylindrical part of spindle section22, but also extend into the upper comically-tapered upper end 22' ofthe spindle section. The latter tapered end merges with thereduced-diameter upper portion of the spindle, where a turn 16 of theyarn is readily accommodated in the clearance space 26 without binding.This tapered shoulder tends both to hold the turn 16' out of aninterfering position and also serves to guide the depending yarn intothe passageways such as 23. Moreover, the smooth taper of the upper end22' of the enlarged-diameter spindle section 22' serves to guide donnedbobbins into place, without causing them to hang up or snag so that theycannot be properly seated. Spindle section 22 may be integral with oraffixed to the spindle.

Spindle 10a in FIGS. 3-5 is generally and functionally the same as thatof FIGS. 1 and 2, as are also the other elements bearing correspondingreference numerals there distinguished by the subscript a. The spindlesection 27 which there provides both the needed close fit with bobbinbushing 20a and the needed yarn-relief passageways 23a, includes fourangularly-spaced radial projections, 28, between which the reduceddiameter of the section affords the relatively large clearance fornon-interfering passage of the yarn. In FIG. 3, the bobbin a is shown inan unmated position such as occurs when it is loaded and doffed in thedirection 29, and the trailing yarn 16a then naturally wraps itselfabout the spindle in a spiral pattern. Subsequently, when an unloadedbobbin is donned, to the position shown in FIG. 4, that yarn is causedto lie in the passageways 30 between the projections 28, as desired,where it will not be jammed or interfere with the bobbin-spindle spacingor alignment.

The generally similar bobbin-spindle arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 6includes elements functionally like those in FIGURES 1-5, and these aretherefore marked by the same reference characters, with thedistinguishing subscript b applied. In that embodiment, the spindleshaft is provided with longitudinally-extending angularly-spacedgrooves, 31, into which the yarn 16b is directed for relief frominterference at the site of the closely-fitted bobbin bushing 2012. InFIG. 7, a spindle section 27c has longitudinally-extending surfacecorrugations 32 which afford both the necessary close fit with a bobbinbushing c and a plurality of radially-deep passageways through whichyarn may pass. FIG. 8 characterizes a construction in which the outerperiphery of a spindle 10d is substantially cylindrical and yarn reliefis afforded by shaping of the inner periphery of the bobbin bushing 20d,in this instance by way of longitudinally-extending corrugations 33.

In all of the preferred constructions, the yarn-relief passagewaysextend at least fully the length of the sections which are closlyfitted, although it is not necessary that these passageways be perfectlylinear. It sould be appreciated that the pasageways need not be ofuniform depth, and that they may be formed by a variety of recesses andprojections, such as those developed by splines, slots, and the like.Accordingly, it should be understood that the embodiments and practicesdescribed and portrayed have been presented by way of disclosure ratherthan limitation, and that various modifications, substitutions andcombinations may be effected by those skilled in the art withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of this invention in its broaderaspects.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

.1. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure in which yarn is draped aboutan elongated upright rotatable spindle member and is packaged upon anelongated tubular bobbin member proportioned to fit in closely-spacedrelationship with the lower portion of the mated spindle member,comprising an elongated tubular bobbin member having a seat therein nearthe upper portion thereof and shaped to receive driving torques from theupper portion of an elongated spindle member, an elongated rotatablespindle member having an upper portion shaped to engage and applydriving torques to said seat of said bobbin member, said bobbin memberhaving interior peripheral surfaces near a lower portion thereof andsaid spindle member having exterior peripheral surfaces near a lowerportion thereof which are respectively disposed radially opposite oneanother in the mated condition of said members and are respectivelyproportioned to produce a close radial fit with minute radial clearancetherebetween in the mated condition of said members, one of saidperipheral surfaces including alternate portions which project radiallyoutwardly and inwardly in relation to the longitudinal axis of the matedmembers at alternate arcuate positions about said axis, whereby saidyarn is urged into non-interfering positions in the spacings of greaterradial depth which exist between said peripheral surfaces of saidmembers in mated conditions of said members.

2. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 1wherein said one of said peripheral surfaces comprises outer surfaces ofa tubular sleeve affixed concentrically with said spindle member nearthe lower portion thereof, said sleeve being tapered upwardly along saidspindle member to a smaller diameter of said spindle member at positionsabove the location of said sleeve.

3. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 1wherein said one of said peripheral surfaces comprises outer surfaces ofsaid spindle member.

4. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 3wherein said one of said peripheral surfaces comprises a plurality ofradial protrusions from said spindle member angularly arrayed about saidaxis, said protrusions being of substantially the same radial depth andbeing angularly spaced by arcuate amounts which freely accommodatepassage of yarn therebetween, and wherein said internal peripheralsurfaces of said bobbin member are substantially cylindrical, saidprotrusions in said array producing said minute radial clearance withsaid cylindrical internal surfaces of said bobbin member.

5. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 3wherein said peripheral surfaces of said spindle member are of a maximumdiameter in direction trans verse to said axis which is greater than thediameter of said spindle member at positions above the location of saidperipheral surfaces having said portions which project outwardly andinwardly.

6. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 5wherein said peripheral surfaces of said spindle member are taperedupwardly along said spindle member to the smaller diameter of saidspindle member at positions above said location.

7. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 3wherein said external peripheral surfaces of said spindle member includesubstantially cylindrically-shaped arcuate peripheral surfaces angularlyspaced by noncylindrical peripheral surfaces of lesser radius inrelation to said axis, said interior peripheral surfaces of said bobbinmember being substantially cylindrical.

8. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 7wherein said minute radial clearance is established between saidcylindrical interior surfaces of said bobbin member and saidcylindrically-shaped arcuate surfaces of said spindle member and is buta few thousandths of an inch, wherein said bobbin member includes atubular bushing in said lower portion thereof, said cylindrical interiorsurfaces comprising interior surfaces of said bushing, wherein saidnoncylindrical surfaces of said lesser radius extend longitudinally ofsaid spindle member for at least a distance equal to the axial length ofsaid cylindrical interior surfaces of said bushing, and wherein saidseat and the cooperating upper portion of said spindle member togetherform a ball-and-socket type connection between said spindle and bobbinmembers.

9. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth in claim 8wherein said non-cylindrical surfaces of said lesser radius aresubstantially fiat.

10. A yarn-relief bobbin-spindle structure as set forth 3,248,065 4/1966Winslow 242-4621 in claim 9 wherein said non-cylindrical surfaces ofsaid 3,368,767 2/1968 Schmidt 242-46.21 lesser radius are surfaces ofslots recessed into said FOREIGN PATENTS spmdle member.

References Cited 5 682,143 2/ 1930 France. UNITED STATES PATENTS 741,31611/1955 Great Britain.

51,340 12/1865 Murdock 242-46.21 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner 627,2496/1899 Burr 57--131 2,463,591 3/1949 Bauer 242-4621 2,625,335 1/1953Atwood 24246.21 24

